Community Garden Project Update

We’ve been continuing our work on renovating the community garden’s water system, which many of you helped fund (thank you!). And as the rainy season comes to an end and water once again becomes a scarce resource, we’re preparing to see a big surge of interest in the garden: the pipes are full of water. For the first time in many years, when June and July rolls around and Zombodze’s rolling hills are all brown and fallow, the big rectangular footprint of the community garden will still be green and verdant… and I cannot wait to see it.

Although most of the work has long been done to bring water back to the garden spigots, there has still been a lot to do. Last month we expanded the creekside reservoir and reinforced it with concrete. Just last week we installed the permanent filter at the intake pipe (built by the local welder). And just a few days ago we finally finished the fairly grueling process of replacing all the old, damaged standpipes and spigots in the garden with brand new ones—18 in all. I’ll replace a few more old components before we leave, but nothing critical. The last big labor component to do: build some ground-level concrete water tanks in the garden, to be used for water storage if/when the pipes and spigots need to be closed for maintenance or repairs. I’ll be hiring a few local laborers to do the work (while I hover over them impatiently).

Picture Caption: Here I am replacing an old standpipe and spigot assembly with new components. I've spent a good part of the last few months standing in muddy holes and sweating profusely.

I’ve also begun compiling a maintenance manual for the new system, which is intended to help the Garden Committee preserve the pipes and valves. It includes pictures of all the components and how they’re put together, where to find all the underground stuff, information about local parts suppliers, and a maintenance routine for regularly flushing out the system and exercising the valves. I love doing this kind of stuff. Seriously—I do.

Our most challenging work lately has been mobilizing the Garden Committee and holding garden meetings to improve overall organization… but we’ll keep at it and try various approaches. This is not a society that places any value on punctuality, so as a result, trying to organize and hold meetings here is often a frustrating exercise in futility: sometimes no one shows up, sometimes people trickle in… hours late. Drives me nuts. But we’ll persevere. I’m going to approach a Swazi organization and ask them to help with long-term organizational development of the garden, thinking they’ll be around after we’re gone to follow through.

So that’s the garden water project update. The water flows, the system is functioning well, and what work remains is aimed at improving its prospects for long-term maintenance and preservation. When the dry season is in full swing I’ll do some measurement/evaluation regarding increases in garden membership and crop production.

Picture Caption: Two of our most valuable volunteer workers, Mkhulu Nkambule (left) and Mkhulu Simelane. These guys are really, really strong. And friendly.